Rimbaud's girl

But she didn't think much about it, she just thought it was because he was busy with work, so he sneaked into the art gallery to relax.

After Gabriel sent Sister Vitaly back to the apartment, he went home immediately and asked someone to go to Goupil's company to investigate the man named Van Gogh.He now has his own manpower, not many, just one, which is enough for now, mainly doing simple errands and investigations.

Before dinner, Gabriel got the personal information of Vincent van Gogh: Dutch, his father is a Protestant Calvinist pastor, the parish is small, on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, surrounded by Catholic parishes, so Van Gogh Pastor Gao's work is not going well; there are 6 children in the family, and Vincent is the eldest child and the eldest son;

The Van Gogh family is quite famous in the Netherlands. Vincent has several famous and wealthy uncles and uncles. Vincent Van Gogh, one of the major shareholders of Goupil Company, is his uncle. There is also a Rear Admiral Uncle, but Van Gogh's family is very poor; Vincent likes the landlady's daughter Ursula, but Ursula is engaged to someone else.

So, Vincent looked distressed because he was rejected by Ursula?

Gabriel snorted contemptuously: his "love" is impure, as long as Vitaly discovers this, she won't have any thoughts about him.

He quickly put it down.

He hasn't found a chance to talk to her about going to Oxford. I hope everything will go well. It seems that she is most worried about Arthur's tuition fees, but money is not a big problem. Oxford University has scholarships, and tuition fees may be waived , There are many ways, as long as you want to solve it, you can always solve it.

After Arthur's fever subsided, he could finally leave his room.

"Are you okay?" Vitaly asked.

"It's better, at least, the headache doesn't hurt so much." He rubbed his forehead.

"That's good." There is no specific medicine for the cold, and the medicine can only relieve the symptoms. Mrs. Rimbaud stewed chicken soup for him every day, and Vitaly asked him to drink more hot water.

"I thought I would go out with you after you came to London." He felt sorry.

"It's okay, Gabriel will take us out to play." Isabel said happily.

Arthur smiled and pulled Isabel's braid, "What do you think of him?"

"He's very nice and good-looking, and he took us to a delicious afternoon tea!" She lowered her voice, "He even bought me a nice dress."

As long as you have money, it's so easy to please a 13-year-old girl, it's not a big deal.He looked at Vitaly, "What about you? Is he treating you well?" He cared about that.

"He is very good, with almost no flaws." Vitaly said objectively: "I don't know much about him yet, maybe I will find his flaws in the future, but now, he is very good. By the way, how about you? When do you want to go back to Paris?"

He thought Gabriel must have never told her about Oxford University. "I'm still thinking about it. I've thought about it. It's the same if I study at the University of Paris or Oxford. Gabriel invited me to visit Oxford University next semester. He helped me ask for a reserved place. If I want to When applying to Oxford, make a decision as soon as possible."

Vitaly was surprised: "You want to go to Oxford?! Does mother know your plan?"

"I haven't told her yet." He frowned.Mrs. Rimbaud will not hinder him in these matters. No matter where he goes to college, it is the same to his mother. The difference may be only in money. He does not want his mother to use the savings. The money must be left to Vitaly .

"You have to tell your mother immediately after you make a decision. There is no difference between the University of Paris and Oxford University. It doesn't matter where you go to school." She thought about the famous literary figures in Britain at this time and how to get to know them. She probably didn't know Harder than getting to know the literary bigwigs in Paris.

"Oh, by the way, I almost forgot, your "A Season in Hell" has already been bought by a publisher, and I brought a contract for you to sign." She didn't see Arthur these days, so she didn't think of this thing.She quickly went to the bedroom to take out the contract and put it in front of Arthur.

"Look at it and sign it."

Arthur was really pleasantly surprised at the moment, "Sold it? I thought no one would want it."

"To be honest, the publisher really didn't understand it, so he said that the first edition could not be printed much, probably only 1 copies, and the manuscript fee was not high. I think it doesn't matter if the manuscript fee is lower. If no one buys it, he will It’s at a loss. But if you sell more than 1 copies, you’ll be paid another manuscript fee. The important thing is that this is your first collection of poems, and with the collection of poems, it’s definitely not a problem for you to apply to Oxford University.”

He was overjoyed, "You're right!" He just turned 19 this year, and it's very rare for him to be able to publish his own poetry collection at the age of 19, isn't it?When he applied to the University of Paris, the two poems published in the newspaper also played a certain role. At that time, he knew how useful "fame" is.

He fetched an inkwell, a pen, and signed the contract.He took another notebook and handed it to Vitaly, "This is the poem I wrote in the past few months."

There is a strap on the leather-bound notebook. Untie the strap, and there are a bunch of papers of different sizes and materials inside.It seems that I still write wherever I go, and I can write on any paper I hold in my hand.After flipping through it roughly, she closed the notebook and re-tied the straps.

"I will make another copy and bring it back to Rouen."

Still a seemingly haphazard anthology of prose and poetry titled Colored Illuminations.His language is more concise and full of charm, the agitated passion that belongs to the youth is still there, but it has become relatively mild and no longer too sharp; and for some reason, he uses a lot of words to describe colors.

"There is a vast space above my underground salon, houses grow like plants, and the fog locks the heavy buildings. The sludge is black and red, the magic city, the endless night!

Water drips from the low places, and there is only the thickness of the land around.Maybe Tianyuan, Huojing?Maybe it's where the moon meets the comet, the ocean and the myth?

When I am bitter, I imagine sapphires and metal balls.I am the master of silence.Why is there a gray window in the corner of the sky? "

or:

"The mist rises from the high pond. Which witch will be on the pale sunset? On which tree will the purple leaves fall?"

and also:

"When the Chinese ink exudes a pleasant fragrance, the black powder gently sprinkles my night."

and also:

"A clear gray sky. A strange picture: some bridges, straight, raised, or sloping, twisting and intertwined, twisted in shape in a shining network of rivers, and all bridges so long and light, so that the bank with its igloos looks low and low."

Perhaps it fits the name of the collection of poems, Illuminations. This is a collection of poems about "color", which more or less vents his grief and indignation at being hurt by his lover.

Arthur still refused to say what he wrote in his autobiography, but said that it was half written, and it would be about 20 words after it was completed.He is not as severe as Flaubert. He chooses words carefully, chooses stories, chooses characters, and only writes what is necessary without wasting time and ink.

Vitaly was very curious and tried her best to see the manuscript in advance, and asked him if he needed to copy it, but Arthur politely refused.

Instead, he asked her, "What about you? You should have practiced enough during this time, do you understand the essence of creation?"

"Understood." Vitaly thought for a while, "What you said is very reasonable. I should not limit myself. There should be no restrictions on 'creation'. Write what I want to write. But the problem is, I don't know what to write .”

"Write yourself."

"Is it also an autobiography or a semi-autobiography?"

"Correct."

"But my life experience is limited, and there is nothing to write about. Mr. Flaubert said that we should jump out of the limitation of 'self' and broaden our horizons."

"What kind of stories do you like?"

She lowered her head and thought for a moment, "La Traviata, Madame Bovary, Pride and Prejudice."

"...Which one do you like best?"

"It's still Jane Austen. Zola is ambitious and wants to write a series about the vicissitudes of a family for decades. He, Hugo, Flaubert, and Turgenev all have a desire to tell all the different things in the world. Equal wishes, this is called 'realism'. If I followed their path, I would have to write some bitter and bitter works, about small people, about the hardships of the world, life is too short and too long."

Arthur grinned, "They are a little too sad."

"Although in fact I don't need to experience any suffering in the world to write good works, Austin has not experienced any hardships in the world, but people are still watching her, and she is not out of date for decades. George Sand is good too, but George Sand's work is actually not as widely read as Austen's - Austen doesn't use any difficult words, doesn't have dramatic stories, but neither English nor American I like watching her."

The French don't like Jane Austen very much. Probably the slow life scenes of the gentry class in the English countryside cannot attract French readers. Besides, there are many native French authors, and the French always have something new to read.

"You must first figure out your own writing characteristics, and then think about what kind of characters and stories you want to write." He actually didn't quite understand Vitaly's dilemma.For him, he wants to write, it's very simple, then start writing.Poetry is more complicated than that, but it's really not a problem.

Vitaly's knowledge accumulation is no less than when he was 15 years old, or even better. After all, he has a good mentor, and his horizons are much wider than when he was 15 years old-he could only read books in bookstores, and many I haven't read the book.

"We've got to fix the problem of you not knowing what to write about as soon as possible. Although in my opinion, you're only 15 years old - 15 and a half years old, don't worry at all."

"That's because you are a man, what you want to do, you can succeed as long as you work hard; but women are not, women want to gain fame and status in this world, most of the time they can only rely on men, not husbands, or Father and brother, and sometimes son."

Arthur was overjoyed, "Son? You think so much! With whose son? Huh?" He teased his sister and patted her cheek.

"Can you be more serious?" Vitaly dodged and glared at him angrily.

Looking closely at the problem of her not knowing what to write, it is actually because she does not have the strong desire to tell something.Different from painting, painting is bigger -->>

Sometimes there is already a theme, and what needs to be considered is the use of color and light and dark contrast; but creating a book, telling characters and stories, requires more things.

Accumulation of knowledge is necessary. No matter who is a literary master, he will have a lot of accumulation in his youth. A person who has not received a systematic and complete mathematics education can solve a difficult mathematical problem with only one mathematics textbook. However, it is almost impossible for a person who has not received a systematic and complete literary education to write a wonderful book with profound practical significance.

You must at least master common words and basic grammar to write smoothly, and this means at least 9 years of primary and secondary education. The threshold for "writing" is actually very high.

Arthur will continue to create more difficult poems because he instinctively understands the conflict and separation between his own background and environment and the entire era. And it is closely related to the background of the times; in terms of creation, he will be more willing to talk.Looking back at herself, her life has not been so ups and downs, and there are no more setbacks.

Dumas wrote "La Traviata" because of a broken relationship; Jane Austen was never married, but wrote "Pride and Prejudice" which is a nearly perfect love story.These predecessors all have the desire to confide, because of sadness, because of hope, or because others are dissatisfied with society and reality.

In the final analysis, the experience may still be too limited.

She has no deeper understanding or extended thinking about social issues, and it is actually because she has never been in touch with the real "bottom of society".

But when I think about it again, she doesn't really have no writing subjects at all-the things in the Rimbaud family are already very typical: a husband who abandons his wife and children, a stoic wife, a child who died young, several Children with different personalities; economic pressure, social status, ridicule from others, joys and sorrows in life.

The ready-made story material is there.

But she would have to change the true story so that Mrs. Rimbaud would not be saddened by it, and perhaps give her a good beating.

The water in the vase was changed, and a bunch of red was inserted.

Gabriel would send her flowers every day, white or red.It is very beautiful, with a natural and fresh fragrance, it makes people feel happy when placed in the bedroom.

He hasn't mentioned that he wants to take her to meet his parents, maybe it's not time yet, but tonight, he's going to take her to the dance.

Isabel was too young to go to the ball; Arthur would go with them.Gabriel said that Arthur should get acquainted with the French nobles in London. They are rich but boring, and they don't know where to spend their money all day long.

The ball at the aristocratic family was indeed feasting and resplendent, a luxury that Vitaly and Arthur had never seen before.Fortunately, they already had some experience in participating in literary and art salons, so their expressions were calm and their attitudes were natural.

The dance hall is huge and can accommodate at least 300 people at the same time; on the walls are kerosene lamps one after another, under the high ceiling is a crystal chandelier with countless candles, the crystal reflects the candlelight, and the whole dance hall is shining like a dream the waiter carrying a tray with glasses of amber liquid in them; the necks and hair of the ladies with blinding jewels.

There is also an almost fainting perfume smell.

Vitaly was not dazzled by the jewels, but almost lost to the smell of perfume.

She fanned the Chinese silk folding fan in her hand vigorously, and complained in a low voice, "They like to wear perfume too much!" French people, regardless of gender, like to use perfume or lighter cologne.But no matter how light the perfume is, if so many people wear perfume on their bodies, it won't smell very good.

Gabriel suppressed a smile, "It's like this at dance parties, it might be better if there are fewer people."

Arthur was noncommittal.

Gabriel introduced the Rimbauds to some of the guests, calling Arthur a "poet" and Vitaly Flaubert's schoolgirl.Flaubert was not of noble origin, but cultural celebrities are such a kind of existence that nobles would want to know cultural celebrities to show that they have "wide acquaintances".

The Rimbauds quickly understood why Gabriel had brought them to the nobles' ball: the nobles wanted to satisfy their "vanity", and the siblings, especially Arthur, needed new patrons.

This kind of thing is too common, and the brothers and sisters don't have any psychological burden at all; they don't need to please these aristocratic lords and wives, what they want is your unique literati demeanor.They have no shortage of sycophants, and they don't need more dog legs.

As long as Arthur is willing to speak well, his social skills are still very strong.The experience of studying at the University of Paris has also transformed him. He restrained his distasteful temperament, became much more peaceful, and no longer hated the world.And he is smart enough to be able to talk about other topics except sports.

His title of "poet" is still very useful. Vitaly took the opportunity to promote Arthur's forthcoming poetry collection, and immediately someone cheered and said that he should pre-order a few copies and ask him to sign it as a souvenir.

After all, Arthur Rimbaud was only a young man who had just turned 19 years old. After hearing these scenes, he was very happy.

Gabriel and Vitaly were almost inseparable, and if she had to go away, she would always tell her to stay where she was and wait for him.They danced a lot, and the waltz spread from the Viennese court, and is now waltzed all over Europe.The orchestra played Strauss' waltzes, one after another, seemingly never stopping.

Vitaly loves to dance.

She had never been to a dance before, and had only practiced with Arthur a few times at home.Gabriel wanted to teach her to dance, but she said that she would already know it.

Her dancing steps are light and she never steps on him; he hugs her slender waist and keeps turning around on the dance floor. I really hope that the dance will never end, and I can just keep dancing like this.

She had no jewelry, and people would laugh at such a ball without jewelry, so he lent her a set of jewelry from Mrs. Oran: ruby ​​drop earrings, a diamond necklace with a ruby ​​drop pendant, a pair of small and delicate Ruby Butterfly Barrette.

Mrs. Oran said that it was a 16th birthday gift from her grandfather before she got married. He thought that when Vitaly was 16, he would give her this set of jewelry as a birthday present.

He talked to his mother about the girl he liked, and secretly showed her Vitaly's photos. Vitaly was very good at taking pictures, and every photo took her extremely beautifully.Mrs. Oran was very satisfied that Vitaly was a pretty girl, but of course she was not satisfied that Vitaly was of low birth.

Vitaly had a fair complexion, and the ruby ​​set suited her very well, and she liked it very much, and he thought she would be very happy if he gave her jewels.

He hadn't heard of a woman who didn't like jewelry.

This was supposed to be a memorable night. Gabriel took Vitaly to the social ball for the first time, but something unexpected always spoiled the beauty: in the middle of the ball, Crown Prince Eugene suddenly came.

Napoleon Eugene Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte was a handsome boy. Gabriel said that Eugene was 5 months older than him and was born in March 1856, so he is now a boy under the age of 3 .

He was of high standing, the heir to the French Empire, the uncrowned Napoleon IV.All the ladies present bowed to him, and the gentlemen bowed to him.

Vitaly didn't actually learn any court etiquette, and Gabriel never said that there would be a time when she was required to perform court etiquette, and he didn't need to salute when he introduced her to the nobles before.She imitated the actions of other female guests and curtsied, and the crown prince quickly raised his hand to signal the guests to get up.

The music played again.

They were far away from Eugene, she asked in a low voice: "Are you going to see him? After you fought with him, didn't he find a chance to beat him back?"

Gabriel snorted first, and then said: "He is the crown prince, he can't be so stingy."

"That's really tiring! If someone fights with me, I will definitely win him!" Thinking about it, he quickly added, "Or tell the brothers to beat him hard!"

Recalling the last time they fought, it was because Ou Ren whipped him in the face with a horsewhip. At that time, she felt that this bastard Ou Ren really deserved a beating!But then she forgot about it and never saw his face.She remembered now, and hurriedly looked at his face on tiptoe, "Where did he hit last time?"

He smiled and pressed her hand, "I can't see it now. It wasn't a serious injury, but my face hurt so much at the time." He touched under his left eye, "here."

She felt distressed, "You can't treat you like this just because he is the crown prince. I hate arrogant brats!"

He couldn't help laughing, "That's right! He's just an arrogant brat!"

They danced another dance, and the dance music was not over yet, Eugene stood beside them, "Olan."

Gabriel had no choice but to stop dancing, "Your Highness."

Vitaly also said, "Your Highness."

"Who is this--"

"Vitale Rimbaud, my girlfriend."

Eugene raised his eyebrows, "Then what are you going to do with Miss Margetta?"

Vitaly was taken aback: "What did you say?"

Before Gabriel could speak, Eugene said to her, "Miss Margetta will be engaged to Oran next month."

The author has something to say: *This genius mathematician who did not go to high school was Ramanujan from India, born in 1887, and died of tuberculosis at the age of 33.British mathematician Godfrey Harold Hardy rated himself 25 and Ramanujan 100.String theory uses Ramanujan functions.

* Rimbaud's entangled relationship with Verlaine may have prompted him to write "A Season in Hell" and "Color Picture", but he could theoretically write similar works without such trouble.The only domestic translation is "The Complete Works of Rimbaud" translated by Wang Yipei. There is a free pdf on the Internet, you can search for it.The complete works also include letters to his family after he left the country, when he stopped writing poetry.

*Van Gogh was able to toss himself very much after his lovelorn (in fact, his courtship was rejected). First, he found a teaching position in a British boarding school for boys. There was no salary, only board and lodging, and his life was quite miserable; then he approached again Ursula, completely disappointed, then suddenly wanted to become a priest, and struggled for several years.From the age of 20 to the age of 27, he has been tossing. This life experience has enriched his thoughts and played a great role in the formation and enrichment of his aesthetic concepts.But think about it, a smart person actually doesn't need to struggle so much to be clear about what he wants and what he is good at.

*After a few chapters, a future literary boss will appear, guess what, you will win a prize.